Football: Aerial fireworks lift Ryan past Coyotes

12:11 AM CDT on Friday, October 23, 2009

Thursday’s 56-14 drubbing of Wichita Falls at C.H. Collins Athletic Complex did two things for Ryan: one tangible and one with an impact that could only be felt inside the Raider locker room.

First, the win put Ryan (7-1, 4-1) one win away from a 10th consecutive playoff berth. Head coach Joey Florence has never missed out on the playoffs during his tenure at Ryan, and with a win over the Colony next week, the Raiders will be officially in once again.

Second, the 56 points and 581 yards of total offense that the Raiders amassed gave Ryan’s offense it swagger back. Quarterback Scotty Young completed his first 16 passes in the game and accounted for six of the Raiders’ eight touchdowns while putting in just three quarters of work.

“We’re definitely back,” said receiver Antonio Anderson, who grabbed three of Young’s six touchdown passes. “And we’re not going to be stopped. We’ve got our rhythm back, and it’s not going anywhere.”

With the exception of the game’s initial play, the Raiders executed all night long in every phase of the game. After Wichita Falls receiver Devontay Chaffin took the game’s opening kickoff 92 yards past the Raider special teams unit for a touchdown, the Coyotes didn’t score again until midway through the fourth quarter.

Florence said it was always a part of the game plan to kick away from Chaffin, but on his one opportunity of the night, he made Ryan pay. It was his fourth kick return for a touchdown this season.

“He’s the real deal,” Florence said of Chaffin. “You never want to let a kid like that get his hands on the ball.”

So the Raider special teams unit put its stamp on the game with two first-half onside kicks. Linebackers Jerrick Harvey and Johnny Paramore each grabbed one in the second quarter to extend Ryan’s time of possession and keep the ball away from Chaffin.

Because of the recoveries, the Raiders were able to hold the ball for all but 1:47 of the second quarter, a stretch in which they scored three touchdowns.

And when it had the ball, the Ryan offense reverted to its early-season ways, burning up the Wichita Falls (2-6, 2-3) defense for touchdown after touchdown. Young’s first went to Anderson over the middle after just four plays on a drive that started near midfield.

After the same play worked again for the Raiders on the last play of the first quarter to give Ryan a 14-7 lead, Young spread the wealth in the second quarter.

He fired touchdown strikes to Michael Cudd, Bud Sasser and Anderson in the quarter, and the Raiders’ lead ballooned to 35-7 before halftime.

“I thought we spread the ball around really well,” Florence said. “It was good to see our offense come back like they did.”

Receivers Trey Mohair and Ben Telaneus had big nights for the Raiders as well. While Mohair grabbed five passes for a season-high 78 yards, Telaneus actually led the Raiders in receiving yards, coming away with four catches and 117 yards on the night. With the game already in hand, Telaneus caught a Nash Knight pass over the middle with just 2:45 to play that went for a 68-yard score.

“Our receivers played a great game,” Florence said. “Ben really stepped up for us, and it was good to see that because he’s such a great kid, too.”

But it wasn’t all offense. Thursday was the second time in as many weeks that the Raiders have held their opponent to one offensive touchdown.

“They’re playing well as a unit,” Florence said. “And that’s encouraging to see, because if we’re going to win, we’re going to have to play great defense.”

MATT MARTINEZ can be reached at 940-566-6873. His e-mail address is mmartinez@dentonrc.com.